Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-09-24

you haven't answered me yet, Minnie.
what? Oh! about the trip to Han
over. Well, cannot say. presume
it would be change-but you, John? 2"
seeing strange look creeping into his
eyes.
"Me? 0, I will get along nicely. for
fortnight, and then I'll run down and
bring you home. But, perhaps trip
somewhere else would be more to your
liking"
Hanover is fully as well as anywhere
else to visit" she replied, inwardly
wishing he had not proposed the trip
at all.
"All right; get ready by Thursday,
and I'll see you off. I am going to the
city on business then"
Something strange has come over
Minnie. I can't tell the reason, but l
believe she is growing tired of me "
He emphasized the last word under his
breath, and turned old Dolls head
away from the depot. He had kept up
cheerfully to the last, but his wife's
face haunted him. Calm and distant,
she babe him "good-by" in a free and
easy manner, as he kissed her just be-
fore the train started: and he noticed
she sighed as if relieved when he left
the coach. Dear Lord! what should
he do if Minnie ceased to love him
There was something wrong, he was
convinced, but it was as yet painful
mystery to him.
"This is the Sherwood residence, :"
said friend to Minnie, as the twain
were passing fine brown stone man
sion, in an afternoon drive.
"The family is away, I presumed"
questioned Minnie, noticing the absent,
shut-up air about the house and
grounds.
IL should think they were away,
with vengeance" answered the friend.
"Why?" asked Mrs. Ainsworth
breathlessly, growing mystifed.
Haven't you heard? No! Well
Pierce Sherwood is on trial for for
gerry and his wife has gone home to her
mothers"
"For forgery-Pierce Sherwood"
eyes; he's over at Uadean trying
hard to disown his handwrite, but they
say it is all over with him. It's clear
CASE"
Minnie Ainsworth gasped, and
clutched her friends arm for support.
"Why, what ais you, Minnie? One
would believe you were interested in
the scoundrel, by the way the news
disturbs you. Your face is white as the
dead!"
40, pshaw!" said Minnie, trying hard
to be merry-faced. at isn't the news,
it is this dreadful weather that's affect
ing me; and I'm not used to the city. /"
"Let us turn back then," and as
they drove slowly homeward, the
friend finished up the Sherwood for
gerry story, in detail, and added that he
had "run through with all his property,
and that the residence belonged to his
wife,"
"Mrs. Ainsworth you are i'll aren't
your"
No." persisted Minnie, "only tired
and suffering from a slight headache
"Well, I'm sorry" said her friend.
II am afraid you will not be able to at
tend the reception tomorrow night at
Glenwood, though the evenings are
cooler"
"Oh, don't anticipate disaster"
laughed Minnie, with an effert. Il
shall be as bright as new penny by
reception time"
And she was; but she was not at the
reception. Her friend called for her
at an early hour, only to learn, to her
dismay, that Mrs. Ainsworth had sud-
denly taken it into her head to go
home. And the friend went back to
her carriage imagining all sorts of
things of Minnie's unaccountable be-
havior; wondered to herself if her
white face of the day previous told
anything of the past. It couldn't be
that Minnie loved Sherwood yet?
calling to mind that he paid his adj
dresses to her in years gone by.
II should think she'd be only too
glad to find she was not tied to him now
at least, even if she did care for him
once" murmured the friend to herself
as she was driven to Glenwood alone.
And Minnie Ainsworth was glad.
Tears of genuine happiness, and per-
haps little contrition as well, dimmed
the blue eyes as the stage drew up to
the pretty Ainsworth cottage at even
tide, and she saw John sitting among
the roses.
"Hello~ calculated he, as the stage